Automatic blower for guns.



No. 789387. PATENBD MAY 9. 1.905. J.D.BDWARDS&G. 0.1mm. AUTOMATIG BLOWERFOR GUNS.

APPLIOATION'IILED 00T. 20, 1904.

SHEETS-sum1,

No. '789,687. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. J. D. EDWARDS 6r, C. C. LOVE.y

AUTOMATIC BLOWER EUR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 20, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NITED STATES Patented May 9, `1905.

JOE D. EDWARDS AND CHARLES C. LOVE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO MARGARET MARY LOEFFLER, OF WASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC BLOWER FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,687, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed October 20, 1904. Serial No. 229,322.

T0 all ll/71,0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Jon D. EDWARDS and CHARLES C. Lovn, citizens of theUnited States, residing' at l/Vashington city, District of Columbia.have invente'd new and useful Improvements in Automatic Blowers forGuns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic blower for guns; and the objectthereof is to provide means for` automatically forcing from the gunbefore the breech thereof is opened any gases or products of combustiondue to the explosion or ignition of the explosive or combustible chargewhen firing the gun, thereby preventing premature explosions.

The invention further aims to provide a blower for guns for the purposeset forth which will be automatically operated by the recoil andcounter-recoil of the'gun, thereby forcing from the gun any gases orproducts of combustion to prevent premature explosion. i

The invention further aims to construct an automatic blower for gunswhich shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, eficient inits use and operation, readily set up in operative relation with respectto the gun, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

IVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of partshereinafter referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, and wherein is shown thepreferred embodiment of the invention; but it is to be understood thatchanges, variations, and modifications can be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages, and therefore the invention is not restricted to the detailsof construction hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanyingdrawings; but the right is reserved to make such changes, variations,and modifications as come properly within the scope of the claimshereunto appended.

A blower constructed in accordance with piston-head, and said piston-rodmay be car- A ried by the gun, so as to reciprocate during the recoiland counter-recoil thereof, or said reciprocatory element can be thepiston-rod of the recoil brake mechanism, said rod of said mechanismbeing bored and provided with a valved head, so as to obtain thefunction desired. The discharging element is in the form of a hollowtube, having one end provided with a valve to prevent back pressure.Said discharging element is carried by the gun, the latter being boredto receive it, and the said discharging element may extend in the gunfrom the back thereof or from the top, at the rear thereof.

Inthe drawings, wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views, Figure l is a side elevation of agun broken away and showing the blower in longitudinal section, and, asshown in Fig. l, the blower is arranged at the top of the gun andextends into the gun, at the rear thereof. Fig. 2 is an end viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a view of one end of the stationary element with theparts thereof removed. Fig. L is a similar view of the piston-head. Fig.5 is a longitudinal section of the valve-head for the stationaryelement. Fig. 6 is a like view of the piston-head. Fig. 7 is alongitudinal section of the discharging element. Fig. 8 is a face Viewof the valve forthe discharging element. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevationshowing the application of the blower to a recoil brake mechanism, andFig. l() is a detail of one end of the gun, showing the dischargeelement extending therein from the top.

In the adaptation of the invention to a gun it will be stated that oneor more of the blowers can be employed; but preferably two are employed,as unusually favorable results are obtained from the employment of twoblowers; but it will be stated that very satisfactory results areobtained when but one blower is employed.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, 1 denotes the gun; 2, thepowder-chamber; 3, the gas-check chamber; 4, the breech-block chamber;5, the gun-carriage, and 6 the recoil brake mechanism. These elementsmay be of any known construction, with the eX- ception that when oneblower is employed the rear portion of the gun is provided with a boreterminating in an air-passage, to be hereinafter referred to, and thatwhen two or more blowers are employed the rear portion of the gun isprovided with a corresponding number of bores and air-passages, thefunction of which will be hereinafter referred to.

A blower constructed in accordance with this invention embodies astationary element, a reciprocatory element, and a discharging elementcoupled with the reciprocatory element.

The stationary element consists of a hollow cylinder 7, screw-threadedat one end, as at 8, and said cylinder 7 is closed at its screw-threadedend through the medium of a cap 9, interiorl y screw-threaded, as at 10,provided with an air-chamber 10' on its inner face, with a shoulder 11and a beveled surface 12, and in its head with a centrally-arrangedopening 13 and a plurality of air-inlet passages 14. The screw-threads10 of the cap 9 are adapted to engage with the screwthreads 8 of thecylinder 7, and said cylinder 7 is adapted to abut against the shoulder11, the connection between the cylinder and cap being substantiallyair-tight. Resting against the inner face of the head of the cap 9 andclosing the passages 14, as well as the passage 13, is a disk valve 15,which is lixedly secured to the inner end of a valved stem 16,projecting through the opening 13. Said stem 16 carries on its outer endan enlargement 17, preferably in the form of a nut, and interposedbetween said enlargement 17 and the outer face of the head of the cap 9and surrounding the valved stem is a coiled compression-spring 18, whosetendency is to normally retain the valve 15 againstthe inner face of thehead of the cap 9, so as to close the passages 13 14. The stationaryelement, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is fixedly secured to thegun-carriage 5. Two blowers are illustrated in connection with Figs. 1and 2, and the stationary elements thereof are secured to thegun-carriage at each side of the gun.

The reciprocatory element is in the form of an elongated hollowpiston-rod carrying on its inner end a valved piston-head. r1 heelongated hollow piston-rod is indicated by the reference character 19and is cxteriorly screw-threiuled at cach end, as at 20 21, and to thescrew-threads 21 is secured the valved piston-head, which is in the formof an interior]y-screw-threaded cap 22, having an enlargement 23 of adiameter substantially equal to that of the inner diameter of saidhollow cylinder 7. The head of the cap 22 is indicated by the referencecharacter 24 and is provided with a centrally-arranged opening 25 and aplurality of air-passages 26. Engaging the inner face of the head 24 ofthe cap 22 is a disk valve 27, the function of which is to normallyclose the passages 26, as well as the opening 25, and said valve 27 iscarried on the inner end of a valve-stem 28, which extends through theopening 25. Said stern 28 carries on its outer end an enlargement 29,preferably in the form of a nut, and between said enlargement 29 and theouter face of the head 24 said valve-stem 28 is surrounded by a coiledcompression-spring 30, whose function is to normally retain the Valve 27against the inner face of the head 24, so as to close the passages 26,as well as thc opening 25. The reciprocatory element is adapted tooperate within the cylinder 7. and said element is iXedly secured in anysuitable manner, as at 31, to the gun, so that when the gun recoils andcounter-recoils a reciprocatory movement will be given to said pistonrodand the valved piston-head. The function obtained from the operation ofthe reciprocatory element Within the stationary element is the same asthat of an air-pump. The valved piston-head is constructed in such amanner that when it is secured to the rod 19 an air-chamber 32 will beformed and which is adapted to communicate with the passage in the rod19. As shown in Fig. 2, two blowers are employed. Consequently tworeciprocatory elements are employed, there being an element secured toeach side of the gun, so that said reciprocatory elements will move withthe gun during the recoil and counterrecoil thereof.

.The discharging element consists of an inclined nozzle 33, shoulderedas at 34 and provided with exterior screw-threads 35. The mouth of thenozzle is closed through the medium of a gravity-return flap-valve 36,having an extension 37, which is pivoted, as at 38, to the end of thenozzle 33. The nozzle at its opposite end is provided with ascrew-threaded projection 39, which is engaged by the coupling member40, so as to connect the nozzle with the rcciprocatory element as thecoupling at its upper end engages the screw-threads 20 of the rod 19.The discharging element is adapted to be inserted into the gun, and forthis purpose a bore corresponding in contour to the nozzle 33 isprovided. Said bore is indicated by the refe-rence character 41 andextends at an iuclination. When two blowers are employed,

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one of the bores 41 extends downwardly at an inclination and the otherextends upwardly at an inclination. The bore 41 is of greater lengththan the nozzle 33, and by such an arrangement sufficient space isformed to enable the operation of the flap-valve 36 when it opens themouth of the nozzle 33. The bore 41 communicates at its inner end withan inclined air-passage 42 of less diameter than the diameter of saidbore 41 at the inner end thereof, so as to contract the column-of air,and said passage 42 opens into the gun at a point in as close proximityto the gas-check chamber 3 as is possible. When two blowers areemployed, two passages 42 are provided, one of them extending'downwardly at an inclination and the other upwardly at an inclination.By such an arrangement the air-currents when two blowers are employedmeet, and it has been found that after the air-currents meet they willcause the travel of the air to be in substantially alongitudinaldirection, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. In Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings the discharging' elements are inserted into the back of the gunat each sideof the breech-block; but any other position of thedischarging element than that as shown can be employed.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings the adaptation of the blower is shown inconnection with a recoil brake mechanism, and in this connection thecylinder 43 of such mechanism has its head 44 constructed in the samemanner as the head of the cylinder 7, the same reference charactersbeing applied thereto. The piston-rod of the recoil brake mechanism isindicated by the reference character 45 and is bored so as to form anair-passage 46 and carries on its inner end a piston-head 47 of the sameconstruction as the piston-head referred to, the samereferencecharacters being applied thereto. The piston-rod 45 is coupledin any suitable mannerwfor example, in the manner as shownto thedischarging element.

In Fig. 10 of the drawings the discharging element is shown as insertedfrom the top of the gun, at the rear thereof, and for this purpose abore 43 is provided, which is of the same contour as the bore 41, butextends in a `vertical direction and at its lower end communicates withthe inclined air-passage 49, this passage being the same as the passage42, hereinbefore referred to. The discharging element (indicated by thereference character 50 in Fig. 10) is coupled with the reciprocatoryelement in any suitable manner-for eX- ample, that as shown in Figs. 1and 2.

The length of the cylinders 7 and 43 and the outstrolre of thepiston-rods 19 and 45 are such that on the recoil of the gun asufficient quantity of air is drawn therein so that on the instroke ofthe piston-rod 19 or 45 the necessary amount of air will be forced intothe gun so the cleansing operation will be had in a satisfactory manner.

The operation of the structure, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, is that whenthe gun recoils air will be drawn into the cylinder 7, as will beevident, owing to the fact that when the pis'- ton-rod 19 movesoutwardly the valve 15 will be moved so as to open the air-inletpassages 14, and consequently air will be drawn into the cylinder 7, aswell as the air-chamber 10. On the counter-recoil of the gun thepiston-rod 19 will move inwardly, causing the valve 15 to close thepassages 14 and the valve 17 to move so as to open the air-inletpassages 26, which will cause the air within the cylinder 7 andair-chamber 10l to enter through the passages 26 into the hollowpiston-rod and travel therethrough, through the coupling 40 into thenozzle 33, and be discharged into the gun through the passage 42,thereby forcing the gases or products of combustion from within the gunto the atmosphere. The air when traveling through the nozzle 33 willmove the valve 36 from its seat, consequently opening the nozzle; butback pressure from within the gun will cause the valve 36 to retain itsclosing position. The construction of the valve 36 is such that it willnormally retain its seat, and consequently prevent air from enteringintothe gun unless said valve is moved from its seat, when the reciprocatoryelcment is operated in a manner as hereinbefore referred to.

The operation of the structure shown in Fig. 9 is substantially the sameas that referred to in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 to8, as will be evident.

When two blowers are employed, as before stated, the currents of air areprojected into the gun at an inclination and meet and then travel in alongitudinal direction. It has been found that the current of airexpunges the gases or products of combustion from the gun, consequentlypreventing premature explosion, and owing to the fact that the operationof the device is automatic itwill be had before the breech is opened.Consequently when the breech is opened no gases or products ofcombustion can pass out through the breech.- rlhe first operation, whichis obtaining a supply of air or what may be termed a cleansing medium,is had on the recoil of the gun, and the second operation of supplyingsaid cleansing medium to the interior of the gun, so as to expunge thegases or products of combustion, is had on the counter-recoil of thegun. It is therefore evident that the entire operation of the blower isautomatic.

Although in Fig. 1 of the drawings the blower is shown attached to a gunsupported by a stationary gun-carriage, it is to be understood that thedevice is fully applicable for field-guns as well, whether they berapid-fire guns or of other character. So, therefore, it

is to be `understood that the device is applicable for every descriptionof guns provided with a recoil brake mechanism.

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Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A blower for guns involving a pumping element connected with andoperated by the recoil and counter-recoil of the gun and having itsdischarge through the piston of said element, and a nozzle independentof and detachably connected with the piston and opening into the gun andforming a continuation of said piston. i

2. A blower for guns involving` a pumping element connected with andoperated by the recoil and counter-recoil of the gun and having itsdischarge through the piston of said element, and a valved nozzleopening into the gun and forming a continuation of said piston.

3. An automatic blower for guns involving a valved stationary elementopening into the atmosphere, a valved reciprocatory element opening intosaid stationary element, and a valved discharging element opening intothe interior of the gun and forming a continuation of said reciprocatoryelement.

4. A blower for guns involving a pumping element having its pistonconnected with the gun so as to be automatically operated by the recoiland coun ter-recoil of the gun,said pumping element having its dischargethrough the piston thereof, a valved nozzle opening into the interior ofthe gun, and a coupling connected with the piston and the nozzle forestablishing communication between them.

5. A blower for guns embodying a valved stationary element opening intothe atmosphere, a valved reeiproeatory element operating in and openinginto the stationary element and connected with the gun so as to beoperated by the recoil and counter-recoil thereof, a valved dischargingelement opening into the interior of the gun, and a coupling forconnecting the discharging element with the rcciprocatory element.

6. A blower for guns embodying a valved cylinder opening into theatmosphere, a hollow piston-head provided with a valve and opening intosaid cylinder, a hollow pistonrod connected with and opening into saidhead, a valved nozzle opening into the gun, and a coupling forconnecting the nozzle with the piston-rod.

7. The combination with a gun having a bore opening into an inclinedair-passage communicating with the interior of the gun, of a stationaryvalved element, a hollow reciprocatory element provided with a valve andoperating in an opening into the stationary elcment and connected withthe gun so as to be automatically operated by the recoil andcounter-recoil thereof, a discharging element secured in said bore andprovided with a valve, and a coupling for connecting said dischargingelement with said reciprocatory element.

8. The combination with a gun having a bore opening into an inclinedair-passage communicating with the interior of the gun, and the carriagefor the gun, of a valved cylinder lixed to said carriage, a hollowpiston-head operating in said cylinder and provided with avalve, ahollow piston-rod connected to said head and to the gun andautomatically operated by the recoil and counter-recoil of the gun, anda valved nozzle extending in said bore and connected with saidpiston-rod.

9. A blower for guns embodying a cylinder having one end provided with aplurality of inlet-passages, an automatically-operablc valve fornormally closing said passages, a hollow piston-head operating in saidcylinder and provided with a plurality of outlet-passages, anautomaticallyoperable valve carried by said head for normally closingsaid passages, said last-mentioned valve operating in an alternatedirection with respect to the operation of the first-mentioned valve, ahollow piston-rod secured to and communicating with said hollowpiston-head, a nozzle extending into the gun and opening into theinterior of the gun, a gravity return-Valve connected to the inner endof said nozzle `for normally closing the mouth thereof, and means Aforestablishing communication between said nozzle and said hollowpiston-rod.

10. Ablowerforgunsembodyingacylinder having one end provided with aplurality of inlet-passages, an automatically-operable valve fornormally closing said passages, a hollow piston-head operating in saidcylinder and provided with a plurality of outlet-passages, anautomatically-operable valve carried by said head for normally closingsaid passages, said last-mentioned valve operating in an alternatedirection with respect to the operavtion of the first-mentioned valve, ahollow piston-rod secured and opening into said piston-head andconnected with the gun and automatically operated by the recoil andcounter-recoil of the gun, a nozzle extending into the gun and openinginto the interior of the gun, a gravity return-valve connected to theinner end of said nozzle for normally closing the mouth thereof, andmeans for establishing communication between said nozzle and said hollowpiston-rod.

l1. A blower for guns embodying a cylinder having one end provided witha centrally-arranged opening and a plurality of inlet-openings, aValve-stem extending through said centrally-arranged opening and havingits outer end provided with an enlargement, a valve carried on the innerend ol said valvestem and adapted to close said inlet-openings, a coiledvspring interposed between said enlargement and the cylinder fornormally rctaining the valve in its closure position, a hollowpiston-head operating in said cylinder and provided with acentrally-a1'ranged opening and a plurality of outlet-openings, avalvestem extending through said centrally -arranged opening' and havingits outer end pro- IOC IIC

vided with an enlargement, a valve arranged in said piston-head andsecured to the inner end of the stem and extending through thecentrally-arranged opening of the piston-head, a coiled spring mountedupon the valve-stem for the piston-head and interposed between theenlargement on said stem and said pistonhead, a hollow piston-rodsecured to and cornmunicating with said piston-head, a nozzle openinginto the interior of the gun, a gravity return-valve carried on theinner end of the nozzle and adapted to normally close the mouth thereof,and a coupling for establishing communication between the nozzle and thepiston-rod.

12. A blower for guns embodying a cylinder having one end provided witha centrally-arranged opening and a plurality of inlet-openings, avalve-stein extending through said centrally-arranged opening and havingits outer end provided with an enlargement, a valve carried on the innerend of said valvestem and adapted to close said inlet-openings, a coiledspring interposed between said enlargement and the cylinder for normallyretaining the valve in its closure position, a hollow piston-headoperating in said cylinder and provided with a centrally-arrangedopening and a plurality of outlet-openings, a valvestem extendingthrough said centrally-arrangeolopening and having its outer endprovided with an enlargement, a valve arranged in said piston-head andsecured to the inner end of the stem and extending through thecentrally-arranged opening ofthe piston-head, a coiled spring mountedupon the valve-stem for the piston-head and interposed between theenlargement on said stem and said pistonhead, a hollow piston-rodsecured to and opening into said piston-head and connected with the gunand automatically operated by the recoil and counter-recoil oi' the gun,a nozzle opening into the interior of the gun, a gravity return-valvecarried on the inner end of the nozzle and adapted to normally closethemouth thereof, and a coupling for establishing communication between thenozzle and the piston-rod.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOE D. EDWARDS. CHARLES C. LOVE. Vitnesses:

N. L. BoeAN,

SIGMUND J. BLOCK.

